Electric power generation by traffic driven turbines

ABSTRACT

Electric power is generated through turbines with magnetic material rotated by magnetized or non-magnetized ferrous material on vehicles passing by the turbines. The turbines are placed at preferably high traffic locations along highways, railways, and similar transportation paths. Magnetized or non-magnetized ferrous material such as external parts or add-on strips on vehicles cause rotation of the turbine generating electricity for use in local consumption or for adding to the power distribution network.

BACKGROUND

As the number of people and a size of economies around the world grow, energy consumption and its inherent negative consequences such as pollution also increase. While new and “clean” energy sources are sought after with great zeal, finding a single solution that will allow everyone on the planet to continue using more and more energy and, at the same time, protecting the environment seems to be an unattainable goal. An emerging trend brings solutions to the energy problem in small steps at local levels. Examples of this trend include generation of power through solar panels in intense sun shine areas, wind power generation in high and sustained wind locations, and the like.

While any given one of these alternative power sources may not be sufficient or economically viable to support a countrywide power network, each bit of low environmental-impact power means less fossil-based power generation with high environmental impact. Thus, small scale hydro-electric generation on rivers and similar bodies of water, which may not support a large dam, may still help in reducing the overall dependence on fossil-based energies.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to exclusively identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Briefly, embodiments are directed to generating electric power from a traffic driven turbine adjacent to a road such that a metal vehicle passing on the road causes the turbine to be rotated and electricity to be generated as a result of rotation of the turbine. The turbine may include magnetic material placed on an outer surface of the turbine such that an interaction between the magnetic material and a portion of the metal vehicle causes the rotation of the turbine. The turbine may be coupled to a circuit for receiving the generated electricity. According to other embodiments, the turbine may be placed in multitude of locations along the road interacting with a multitude of vehicles. The roadway may be a train track, a shipway, and similar ones, while the vehicles may include an automobile, a truck, a bus, a train car, a trolley, a rapid-transit vehicle, or a marine vessel.

These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory and do not restrict aspects as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a commutator in generating electric current from mechanical movement;

FIG. 1B illustrates magnetic fields in a generator when there is no movement and the fields are not disturbed;

FIG. 1C illustrates magnetic fields in a generator when there is movement and the fields are disturbed;

FIG. 2A illustrates a traffic driven turbine placed underneath an overpass over a highway;

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the traffic driven turbine of FIG. 2A underneath the overpass;

FIG. 3A illustrates a traffic driven turbine placed underneath a highway;

FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of the traffic driven turbine of FIG. 3A underneath the highway;

FIG. 4 illustrates a traffic driven turbine placed vertically along a highway with the turbine having a vertical rotational axis;

FIG. 5 illustrates a traffic driven turbine placed vertically along a highway with the turbine having a horizontal rotational axis;

FIG. 6 illustrates a traffic driven turbine system comprising two vertically placed turbines along a highway with the turbines having a vertical rotational axes;

FIG. 7A is an example metal vehicle (automobile) with a magnetized strip placed on top of the vehicle for rotating a traffic driven turbine placed over a highway;

FIG. 7B is another example metal vehicle (truck) with magnetized strips placed on the side of the vehicle for rotating a traffic driven turbine placed along a highway;

FIG. 7C is a further example metal vehicle (train car) with magnetized strips placed on the side of the vehicle for rotating a traffic driven turbine placed along a railway; and

FIG. 8 illustrates various placements of magnetic material on a traffic driven turbine according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There is untapped potential for electric power generation along roadways. Each travelling vehicle along a roadway may have magnetic potential to exert force. This magnetic force in return can be tapped by utilizing turbines with magnetic material. Magnetic potential of travelling vehicles may exert force on magnetic material of turbines located along multitude of locations on a roadway causing the turbines to turn and generate electricity. Generated electricity may be used in multitude of ways including powering highway lamps, signaling systems, and even as feedback to the power grid.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a commutator 106 in generating electric current from mechanical movement. Through the use of a commutator, mechanical energy, specifically rotation, may be converted to electrical energy in form of an electric current.

A commutator 106 is an electrical switch that periodically reverses the current direction 102 in an electric motor or electrical generator. A commutator is a common feature of direct current rotating machines. By reversing the current direction in the moving coil of a motor's armature, a steady rotating force (torque) is produced. Similarly, in a generator, reversing of the coil's connection to the external circuit produces unidirectional current in the circuit.

Direct electrical current 102 flows through the circuit 110 as a result of the commutator's rotation (108). Through the interaction of the magnetic fields of the commutator segments and the fixed circuit parts 104 (or magnetic fixed circuit parts 104 and rotating commutator segments) electric current is created in the circuit 110. The mechanical energy to rotate the commutator (or equivalent component) in the example circuit may be provided by an external mechanical component. In a system according to embodiments, the force providing component is a magnetic turbine rotated by passing vehicles through the interaction of the magnetic material on the turbine and on the vehicles.

FIG. 1B illustrates magnetic fields in a generator when there is no movement and the fields are not disturbed. In a simple representation a generator may be characterized as a simple two-pole device with the brushes (114, 118) or stator arranged at a perfect 90-degree angle from the field 112. In a design, where the brushes are magnets (North and South poles of the magnetic field 120), the rotor 126 may include wound conductive material 116, where electrical current is generated as a result of the conductive material's movement through the magnetic field lines 122 as the rotor 126 rotates.

FIG. 1C illustrates magnetic fields in a generator when there is movement and the fields are disturbed. In a real generator, the fields around the rotor are never perfectly uniform. Instead, the rotation of the rotor induces field effects which drag and distort the magnetic lines (122, 124) of the outer non-rotating stator. The faster the rotor spins, the further this degree of field distortion. Because a generator operates most efficiently with the rotor field at right angles the stator field, it may be necessary to either retard or advance the brush position (114, 118) to put the rotor's field (112) into the correct position to be at a right angle to the distorted field (120)

FIG. 2A illustrates a traffic driven turbine placed underneath an overpass over a highway. As discussed above, electricity may be generated through a turbine rotated by a mechanical force generated by movement of water, wind, or steam. An electricity generation system according to some embodiments may use the torque created between two magnets. A magnet placed in the magnetic field of another magnet is subjected to a torque, which forces one of the magnets to move. One or both of the magnets may be permanent magnets or conductive material whose magnetic characteristics are caused by applying an electric current. Furthermore, the torque may be created through the movement of one magnet over a ferrous material (or vice versa).

In a system according to one embodiment, turbine 206 is populated with magnetic material 208 on its outer surface. The magnetic material 208 may have any shape or arrangement as discussed in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 8. A shape (including thickness) and arrangement of the magnetic material 208 may be selected to maximize rotation of the turbine 206, and thereby generation of electricity.

The rotation of the turbine is caused by the attraction or opposite force between the magnets on the turbine and on a passing vehicle or attraction force between the magnets on the turbine and a ferrous material on the passing vehicle. Force between two nearby attracting surfaces of area A and equal but opposite magnetizations M may be expressed as:

${F = {\frac{\mu_{0}}{2}{AM}^{2}}},$

where A is the area of each surface, M is their magnetization, and μ₀ is the permeability of space, which equals 4π×10⁻⁷ Tesla-meters per Ampere.

Similarly, the force between two identical cylindrical bar magnets placed end-to-end may be expressed as:

${F = {\left\lbrack \frac{B_{0}^{2}{A^{2}\left( {L^{2} + R^{2}} \right)}}{{\pi\mu}_{0}L^{2}} \right\rbrack \left\lbrack {\frac{1}{x^{2}} + \frac{1}{\left( {x + {2L}} \right)^{2}} - \frac{2}{\left( {x + L} \right)^{2}}} \right\rbrack}},$

where B₀ is the magnetic flux density very close to each pole, A is the area of each pole, L is the length of each magnet, R is the radius of each magnet, and x is the separation between the two magnets. Thus, depending on the types of magnets used, an optimum size, number of magnets for the turbine, and a distance between the turbine and passing vehicles may be determined based on the above formulas.

Turbine 206 may be placed adjacent to a roadway such as a highway, where magnetic or ferrous material strategically placed on passing vehicles creates the torque and causes the turbine 206 to rotate. For maximum interaction, a distance between the two magnets needs to be as small as possible. One placement for turbine 206 is above the roadway such as below an overpass structure 204. Since vehicle heights vary, a height of the turbine above road surface 202 may be optimized for maximum interaction based on a number of expected vehicles and their heights. For example, a turbine placed over a trucks-only lane may be placed higher than a turbine placed over an automobiles-only lane.

The rotation of the turbine 206 may be converted to electricity by a conversion module placed in the turbine or mechanically forwarded to a conversion device (210) remotely to the turbine depending on environmental conditions, maintenance considerations, and similar reasons.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the traffic driven turbine of FIG. 2A underneath the overpass. The turbine 206 is placed horizontally under the overpass with a horizontal rotational axis parallel to a surface plane of the road (and perpendicular to a direction of the traffic). The magnetic material 208 is placed on a horizontal outer surface of the turbine. Support beams 212 separate the overpass from ground 202 providing space for the turbine to function (and vehicles to pass). Passing vehicles exert force on magnetic material of turbine through the interaction of their metal bodies or added strips made from a ferrous material, creating torque and causing the turbine to rotate (214). The rotation of the turbine may be converted to electricity as previously discussed.

A direction of the rotation of the turbine does not matter for most electricity generation systems. The rotation direction may be reversed upon a reversal of the direction of travelling vehicles.

FIG. 3A illustrates a traffic driven turbine 306 placed underneath a highway 302. The turbine 306 is placed horizontally under the highway with a horizontal rotational axis parallel to a surface plane of the road (and perpendicular to a direction of the traffic flow). The magnetic material 308 is placed on a horizontal outer surface of the turbine. Grid 318 separates the highway from the turbine providing protection and space for the turbine to function. Grid 318 may be designed and manufactured using any type of robust material that can withstand the wear and tear of passing vehicles and not interfere with the magnetic field of the turbine 306. Passing vehicles exert force on magnetic material of turbine, creating torque and causing the turbine to rotate (314). The rotation of the turbine may be converted to electricity as previously discussed.

FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of the traffic driven turbine of FIG. 3A underneath the highway. The turbine 306 is placed within a protective enclosure 320 underneath grid 318 to contain the turbine and protect against environmental conditions underneath the highway 302 and from downward pressure exerted by passing vehicles. Passing vehicles exert force on magnetic material 308 of turbine as discussed before, creating torque and causing the turbine to rotate (314). The rotation of the turbine is converted to electricity as previously discussed.

A turbine placed in the ground underneath a roadway surface may be preferred in situations where a height of passing vehicles may vary reducing an efficiency of a turbine placed over the roadway. A distance between the magnetic material on the turbine and a bottom surface of the passing vehicles may be much more predictable and consistent compared to a distance between a top surface of passing vehicles and a turbine placed overhead.

FIG. 4 illustrates a traffic driven turbine 406 placed vertically along a highway with the turbine having a vertical rotational axis to a surface plane 402 of the highway. The magnetic material 408 is placed on a vertical outer surface of the turbine adjacent to the highway. Passing metal vehicles exert force on magnetic material of turbine, creating torque and causing the turbine to rotate (414). The interaction is between the turbine and a side surface of the passing vehicles. Thus, such a turbine may work with outer most lanes of a multi-lane roadway or a single lane roadway. If ferrous or magnetic strips are to be placed on the surfaces of passing vehicles to enhance turbine rotation, this has to be done on the side surfaces of the vehicles. Shaft 410 of the turbine may be moved up and down to provide optimal torque from passing vehicles such as cars, trucks and others. For example, the main body of an automobile is closer to the ground than a trailer truck. While a large turbine may be used to take advantage of vehicles of all heights, a weight of the turbine is bound to reduce its efficiency. However, this challenge may be mitigated by using an adjustable height turbine or multiple smaller turbines at different heights (e.g. a high turbine close to a trucks-only lane and a low turbine close to a no-truck lane). The rotation of the turbine may be converted to electricity as previously discussed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a traffic driven turbine 506 placed vertically along a highway with the turbine having a horizontal rotational axis to a surface plane 502 of the highway. The magnetic material 508 is placed on a vertical outer surface of the turbine adjacent to the highway. Differently from the turbine of previous figures, turbine 506 has the magnetic material 508 on a top (or bottom) surface of its cylindrical structure as opposed to a side surface. Since the cylindrical structure is placed horizontally, the exerted torque by the interaction of the magnets on the turbine and ferrous or magnetic material on passing vehicles cause the turbine to rotate as shown (514) and generate electricity.

Embodiments are not limited to highways shown in the above figures as example environments where a turbine according to embodiments may be implemented. Using the principles described herein, traffic flow based electricity generation may be facilitated near a highway, a commercial railroad, a rapid transit railroad, a shipping channel, or similar places. Furthermore, vehicles which may be utilized to provide the torque to the turbine may include an automobile, a truck, a bus, a train car, a trolley, a rapid-transit vehicle, a marine vessel, or similar ones.

FIG. 6 illustrates a traffic driven turbine system comprising two vertically placed turbines along a highway with the turbines having a vertical rotational axes. As discussed previously, use of smaller turbines may increase the efficiency of electricity generation and a reliability of the turbines (e.g. fewer breakdowns). At the same time, heights of vehicles may vary. Addressing both challenges is the use of a system with two vertically positions turbines taking advantage of two height ranges. Turbines 606-1 and 606-2 may even have adjustable distance from the roadway (e.g. one may be closer to the road than the other to account for varying vehicle widths). In the example system of FIG. 6, At least two turbines are attached to existing power pole 610 with extensions. Passing vehicles exert force on magnetic material of turbines, creating torque and causing the turbines to rotate. The rotation of the turbines may be converted to electricity as previously discussed. Generated electricity may be utilized to power highway lamps adjacent to the highway. Turbine 606-1 is attached to the pole with extension 622-1. Turbine 606-2 is attached to the pole with extension 622-2.

FIG. 7A is an example vehicle 732 (automobile) with a magnetized strip placed on top of the vehicle for rotating a traffic driven turbine placed over a highway. While metallic bodies of some vehicles may be sufficient to exert the force needed to rotate the turbine, a large number of vehicles have non-metallic bodies. Magnetized or simply metal strips placed strategically on such vehicles may increase power generation efficiency by allowing a larger number of vehicles in the traffic to interact with the turbine.

A passing vehicle with the magnetized strip 734 attached along the vehicle's roof exerts force on magnetic material of turbines (e.g. placed over the roadway), creating torque and causing the turbines to rotate. Rotation of turbines may be converted to electricity as previously discussed. As discussed previously, turbines may be placed in various places around the roadway. Accordingly, the magnetized or ferrous strips may be placed on top, on the side, or underneath the vehicles. To ensure maximum interaction, local governments may issue regulations for placement of turbines (and strips) to render those compatible. Alternatively, strips may be placed on top, side, and underneath the vehicles at the same time to match any turbine placement. The strips may be distributed by local governments, by merchants as marketing material, or even placed on the vehicles by automobile manufacturers or dealers.

FIG. 7B is another example vehicle 736 (truck) with magnetized strips placed on the side of the vehicle for rotating a traffic driven turbine placed along a highway. Passing truck with the magnetized strips 738-1 and 738-2 attached sequentially along horizontal axis of the truck's side exert force on magnetic material of turbines placed alongside a roadway, creating torque and causing turbines to rotate. Rotation of turbines may be converted to electricity as previously discussed.

FIG. 7C is a further example vehicle 742 (train car) with magnetized strips placed on the side of the vehicle for rotating a traffic driven turbine placed along a railway. Passing train cars with the magnetized strips 744-1, 744-2, and 744-3 attached along a horizontal axis of the truck's side exert force on magnetic material of turbines, creating torque and causing turbines to rotate. Rotation of turbines may be converted to electricity as previously discussed. In other embodiments, the vehicle may be a bus, a trolley, a rapid-transit vehicle or even a marine vessel.

FIG. 8 illustrates various placements of magnetic material on a traffic driven turbine according to embodiments. The turbine 851 has a semi-solid coverage of magnetic material covering entire rotational surface of the turbine. The turbine 852 has horizontal strips of magnetic material covering the rotational surface of the turbine with thin horizontal magnetic strips spaced apart evenly, although a thickness and a distance between the strips may be selected arbitrarily. The turbine 853 has vertical strips of magnetic material covering the rotational surface of the turbine with thin vertical magnetic strips spaced apart evenly. The turbine 854 has diagonal strips of magnetic material covering the rotational surface of the turbine with thin diagonal magnetic strips. The turbine 855 has a checkerboard style distribution of magnetic material covering the rotational surface of the turbine.

The turbine 856 has a spotted pattern distribution of magnetic material covering the rotational surface of the turbine. The magnetic material in the spotted pattern may of course have any shape. The turbine 857 has a suspended distribution of magnetic material covering the rotational surface of the turbine with the magnetic materials attached to turbine by non-magnetic connectors. The connectors may be made of flexible material.

Although not shown in the figure, a turbine according to embodiments may include additional structures such as small fins or similar aerodynamic structures that may further increase a rotational efficiency of the turbine resulting in overall increased conversion efficiency.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the embodiments. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims and embodiments. 

1. A method for generating electric power, comprising: providing a traffic driven turbine adjacent to a road such that a vehicle passing on the road causes the turbine to be rotated and electricity to be generated as a result of rotation of the turbine, wherein the turbine includes magnetic material placed on an outer surface of the turbine such that an interaction between the magnetic material and a portion of the vehicle causes the rotation of the turbine; and coupling the turbine to a circuit to receiving the generated electricity.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the turbine is placed vertically alongside the road with a vertical rotational axis perpendicular to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a vertical outer surface of the turbine.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the turbine is placed vertically alongside the road with a horizontal rotational axis perpendicular to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a vertical outer surface of the turbine.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the turbine is placed horizontally over the road with a horizontal rotational axis parallel to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a horizontal outer surface of the turbine.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the turbine is placed horizontally underneath the road with a horizontal rotational axis parallel to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a horizontal outer surface of the turbine.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic driven turbine comprises a plurality of turbines arranged such that rotational axes of the plurality of turbines are one of: parallel to each other and along the same line.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the vehicle is one of: a magnetized and a non-magnetized outer portion of the vehicle.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the vehicle is at least one magnetized ferrous material placed on a body of the vehicle.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the road is one of: a highway, a commercial railroad, a rapid transit railroad, and a shipping channel.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes at least one from a set of: an automobile, a truck, a bus, a train car, a trolley, a rapid-transit vehicle, and a marine vessel.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is placed on the outer surface of the turbine in form of at least one from a set of: a solid patch substantially covering the outer surface, horizontal strips along a rotational axis of the turbine, vertical strips perpendicular to the rotational axis of the turbine, diagonal strips, a checkerboard pattern, a spotted pattern, and a random pattern.
 12. A traffic driven turbine for generating electric power, comprising: an electricity generation component for converting radial motion into electricity; a substantially cylindrical outer member configured to rotate around a shaft member for providing the radial motion, wherein an external surface of the outer member includes magnetic material configured to cause the outer member to rotate in response to passing of a metal vehicle with a second magnetic material in close proximity to the outer member, and wherein the outer member and the shaft member are located adjacent to at least one from a set of: a roadway, a railway, and a shipping channel.
 13. The traffic driven turbine of claim 12, wherein the electricity generation component is configured to provide electrical power for one of: local consumption and input into a power distribution network.
 14. The traffic driven turbine of claim 12, wherein the shaft member is movable such that a distance between vehicles passing the roadway and the outer member is minimized above a predefined safety threshold.
 15. The traffic driven turbine of claim 12, wherein the outer member includes a plurality of flanges to assist rotation caused by the magnetic material.
 16. The traffic driven turbine of claim 12, wherein the magnetic material is placed at the end of a plurality of protrusions places on the external surface of the outer member.
 17. A system for generating electricity based on movement of vehicles on a roadway, the system comprising: a turbine placed adjacent to the roadway arranged to rotate in response to an interaction between a first magnetic material on an external surface of the turbine and a second magnetic material on the vehicle passing along the turbine; an electricity generation circuit for generating and regulating electricity in response to the rotation of the turbine; and the second magnetic material placed on an external surface of the vehicles in anticipation of a location of the turbine relative to the roadway.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the external surface of the turbine further includes an aerodynamic structure for increasing a rotational efficiency of the turbine.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the roadway is one of: a highway, a commercial railroad, a rapid transit railroad, and a shipping channel; wherein the vehicle includes at least one from a set of: an automobile, a truck, a bus, a train car, a trolley, a rapid-transit vehicle, and a marine vessel; and wherein the second magnetic material is placed on the outer surface of the turbine in form of at least one from a set of: a solid patch substantially covering the outer surface, horizontal strips along a rotational axis of the turbine, vertical strips perpendicular to the rotational axis of the turbine, diagonal strips, a checkerboard pattern, a spotted pattern, and a random pattern.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second magnetic material is distributed through a governmental channel and a commercial channel to increase participation of vehicles in power generation through the turbine. 